Dragons vs Munster, Sat 3 Mar 6:30pm, Live on S4C/TG4

thomond2006 · 01-03-2012 10:36am #1

With 20 players either injured or not available to train because of their involvement with the national squad, Munster have named a 29 strong squad for the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Newport Gwent Dragons in Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Danny Barnes is missing having sustained a knee injury in the win over Cardiff Blues on Friday but recent signing Save Tokula is named in the squad.
Also included are Damien Varley and Denis Hurley, both were inCarton House for the week. Varley was dispatched on Wednesday but Hurley and Simon Zebo an absentee from the Munster squad, remain for until Friday.

Munster Squad:
F Jones, S Scanlon, L O'Dea, J Murphy, D Hurley,
S Tokula, L Mafi,
I Keatley, S Deasy,
T O'Leary, D Williams, C Sheridan,

S Henry, M Sherry, D Fogarty, D Varley,
M Horan, W du Preez, J Ryan, S Archer, BJ Botha,
I Nagle, D Foley, M O'Driscoll, B Holland,
T O'Donnell, Dave O'Callaghan, P Butler, J Coughlan,

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10185.php

I'd like to see:
du Preez, Sherry, Botha, MOD, Nagle, DOC2.0, TOD, Coughlan;
TOL, Keatley, Murphy, Mafi, Tokula, LOD, Jones

Bench: Varley, Horan, Archer, Foley, Butler, Sheridan, Deasy, Hurley

profitius · 01-03-2012 12:47pm

I'd like to see a mix of youth and experience again...

Horan, Sherry, Botha
MOD, Nagle
DOC2, TOD, Coughlan

TOL, Keatley
Zebo, Mafi, Barnes, LOD
Jones

Bench: Butler, VDP, Varley, Archer, Deasy, Sheridan, Scanlon

Luke O'Dea should be getting more starts now. His catch against teh Blues last week will do his chances no harm because none of the other backs could catch a ball. I'd also like to see Scanlon getting more games. Give Horan another start. He looked good the last day against Blues.

Botha is a dodgy one. He will probably have to start again because Munster need the win but its risking injury too. Archer should come on at the 50 min mark if Botha does start. Mike Sherry should start or be on the bench.

The backrow should stay the same IMO. I'd like to see Butler start too but the likes of Coughlan and MOD act like a glue that keeps the team shape.

Nagle will probably start too. Holland wasn't great last week but to be fair it was his first start in a while so maybe keeping him there wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Cathal Sheridan on the bench. Williams isn't the long term solution for Munster.

Otacon · 01-03-2012 12:54pm

profitius wrote: »

I'd like to see a mix of youth and experience again...

Horan, Sherry, Botha
MOD, Nagle
DOC2, TOD, Coughlan

TOL, Keatley
Zebo, Mafi, Barnes, LOD
Jones

Bench: Butler, VDP, Varley, Archer, Deasy, Sheridan, Scanlon

Barnes is injured.

onlyrocknroll · 01-03-2012 1:25pm

I'd rather start Archer and have Botha to spring from the bench in case of emergency. We may need to win this one, but we need to win virtually ever remaining game and I doubt any team in European rugby is so heavily dependent on one man.

We will need to rest Botha at some stage, which means realistically we will need to rely on Archer. Archer will only improve with game time so better to give it to him now rather than later. And if we do need him in a big match I'd rather have him a little battle hardened.

profitius · 01-03-2012 1:41pm

Zebo is missing too. So on my team there I'd have Tukola in ahead of Barnes and Johnny Murphy is for Zebu. At lest LOD is likely to get a start.

Flincher · 01-03-2012 1:49pm

I really hope O'Dea gets a start.

I wouldn't be surprised if he forces his way in ahead of Johne Murphy over the next year or so. He was well able for him in the AIL match a few weeks ago. He skinned him on one occasion to set up Richie Mullane for a try.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the props rotated from last week.

Hopefully Sherry can force his way back in. He was excellent for Garryowen last time out, and I think he's a better player than Fogarty. Very good impact off the bench last season.

CatFromHue · 01-03-2012 1:59pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Munster Squad:
F Jones, S Scanlon, L O'Dea, J Murphy, D Hurley,
S Tokula, L Mafi,
I Keatley, S Deasy,
T O'Leary, D Williams, C Sheridan,

S Henry, M Sherry, D Fogarty, D Varley,
M Horan, W du Preez, J Ryan, S Archer, BJ Botha,
I Nagle, D Foley, M O'Driscoll, B Holland,
T O'Donnell, Dave O'Callaghan, P Butler, J Coughlan,

It's a fairly uneven squad when you look at it like that.

Only two centres yet four hookers and four second rows. Obviously Downey and Lualala will change that dynamic but their has to be changes in the second row roster for next season. For the players sake let alone for the finance side.

I'd like to see Hurley on the wing ahead of Murphy but other than that Thomond's team is pretty strong. I don't know if Nagle will get picked ahead of Holland though.

ed7890 · 01-03-2012 2:08pm

onlyrocknroll wrote: »

I'd rather start Archer and have Botha to spring from the bench in case of emergency. We may need to win this one, but we need to win virtually ever remaining game and I doubt any team in European rugby is so heavily dependent on one man.

We will need to rest Botha at some stage, which means realistically we will need to rely on Archer. Archer will only improve with game time so better to give it to him now rather than later. And if we do need him in a big match I'd rather have him a little battle hardened.

Ya I'd like Archer to get the start too. Plus he played against the Dragons at the start of the season, and he was grand. I'd have no fear for him.

Fishooks12 · 01-03-2012 2:09pm

Mad to see Sheridan

Williams is not up to it I'm afraid and we need a 9 that will compete/backup Murray

Fireball07 · 01-03-2012 3:34pm

Team I'd like to see:
Jones, LOD, Tokula, Mafi, Hurley, Keatley, TOL
Du Preez, Sherry, Archer, MOD, Nagle, DOC2, TOD, Coughlan

Bench: Varley, Horan, Botha, Foley, Butler, Sheridan, Deasy, Scanlon

Though I know Murphy will be playing, Botha will probably start and Holland will likely be in the squad ahead of Nagle.

Podge_irl · 01-03-2012 4:53pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'd like to see:
du Preez, Sherry, Botha, MOD, Nagle, DOC2.0, TOD, Coughlan;
TOL, Keatley, Murphy, Mafi, Tokula, LOD, Jones

Bench: Varley, Horan, Archer, Foley, Butler, Sheridan, Deasy, Hurley

God loves a tryer!

PhatPiggins · 01-03-2012 5:18pm

Fireball07 wrote: »

Team I'd like to see:
Jones, LOD, Tokula, Mafi, Hurley, Keatley, TOL
Du Preez, Sherry, Archer, MOD, Nagle, DOC2, TOD, Coughlan

Bench: Varley, Horan, Botha, Foley, Butler, Sheridan, Deasy, Scanlon

Though I know Murphy will be playing, Botha will probably start and Holland will likely be in the squad ahead of Nagle.

I don't think Tokula will go straight into the team. We could have the nightmare combo of Deasy 12 and Mafi 13.

thomond2006 · 01-03-2012 5:24pm

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I don't think Tokula will go straight into the team. We could have the nightmare combo of Deasy 12 and Mafi 13.

I wouldn't mind seeing that.

andrewdcs · 01-03-2012 5:59pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

God loves a tryer!

What happened to Nagle, all the buzz couple of seasons back.... lost focus ? injury? or has the log been taken from our eyes?

CatFromHue · 01-03-2012 6:05pm

andrewdcs wrote: »

What happened to Nagle, all the buzz couple of seasons back.... lost focus ? injury? or has the log been taken from our eyes?

Having POC, DOC, MOD, Ryan, and Holland for competition hasn't helped him in anyway.

Cpt_Blackbeard · 01-03-2012 7:34pm

andrewdcs wrote: »

What happened to Nagle, all the buzz couple of seasons back.... lost focus ? injury? or has the log been taken from our eyes?

Injuries and competition for places.

PhatPiggins · 01-03-2012 9:37pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

I wouldn't mind seeing that.

Bit of a masochist are you ?

thomond2006 · 02-03-2012 1:19pm

Munster:
F Jones; L O'Dea, S Tokula, L Mafi, J Murphy; I Keatley, T O'Leary;
M Horan, D Fogarty, S Archer; D Foley, M O'Driscoll capt; Dave O'Callaghan, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, B Holland, P Butler, D Williams, S Deasy, Denis Hurley.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10192.php

Happy enough with the team, a few niggles like Fogarty ahead of Sherry and no Nagle in the 22.

Hopefully LOD will have another good outing, looking forward to seeing what Tokula can bring too.

Newport Gwent Dragons Team
15 Will Harries
14 Tonderai Chavhanga
13 Andy Tuilagi
12 Ashley Smith (c)
11 Aled Brew
10 Lewis Robling
9 Wayne Evans
1 Nathan Williams
2 Steve Jones
3 Nathan Buck
4 Luke Charteris
5 Rob Sidoli
6 Jevon Groves
7 Lewis Evans
8 Tom Brown

Replacements
16 Sam Parry
17 Phil Price
18 Dan Way
19 Hugo Ellis
20 Darren Waters
21 Jonathan Evans
22 Jack Dixon
23 Steffan Jones

ed7890 · 02-03-2012 1:24pm

Really starting to get worried about Nagle not getting a run now, these are the times when he should be getting his games. I know he's been injured recently, but he's been in training with the team.

durkadurka · 02-03-2012 1:44pm

ignore...

leftleg · 02-03-2012 1:48pm

ed7890 wrote: »

Really starting to get worried about Nagle not getting a run now, these are the times when he should be getting his games. I know he's been injured recently, but he's been in training with the team.

Has Ian Nagle died or something?? where is he??

CatFromHue · 02-03-2012 1:52pm

durkadurka wrote: »

Is this in Thomond?

Nope in Rodney Parade.

My favourite Welsh club ground ever since the floodlights failed during a Leinster game there a few years back and Reggie Corrigan saying to the ref "it's a bit dark isn't it?".

Podge_irl · 02-03-2012 2:24pm

I really don't see what on Earth the point was of Munster signing Nagle onto a new contract, from either Munter's perspective or Nagle's.

jm08 · 02-03-2012 2:39pm

leftleg wrote: »

Has Ian Nagle died or something?? where is he??

I think someone said on munsterfans that he is doing some sort of exams.

totallegend · 02-03-2012 2:48pm

jm08 wrote: »

I think someone said on munsterfans that he is doing some sort of exams.

But he's on a full contract, isn't he? i.e. rugby should be his focus, especially now that the first-teamers are away.

CatFromHue · 02-03-2012 2:49pm

jm08 wrote: »

I think someone said on munsterfans that he is doing some sort of exams.

Strange that as I can't think of any exams that would be on now, certainly not third level anyway.

I read his profile on Munster Rugby and in a little interview with him in Oct 09 he said he was in third year Commerce in UCC. Assuming this is a 4 year degree would have meant he graduated in Summer 2011 when he would have then moved on from a development contract to a full contract with Munster.

I could be completely wrong on this of course. It would seem a bit strange for him to be named in the initial squad if he wasn't going to play any part in the game.

leftleg · 02-03-2012 2:51pm

totallegend wrote: »

But he's on a full contract, isn't he? i.e. rugby should be his focus, especially now that the first-teamers are away.

not if the coach will only play you when pigs fly

Cpt_Blackbeard · 02-03-2012 2:53pm

I'd like to hear the official about Nagle not being involved. It might just be something as simple as fitness, or maybe just maybe, he hasn't been performing as well as the other locks in training? His heroics last year quickly made us forget that Foley was apparently the more highly rated lock.

jm08 · 02-03-2012 2:53pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

Strange that as I can't think of any exams that would be on now, certainly not third level anyway.

I read his profile on Munster Rugby and in a little interview with him in Oct 09 he said he was in third year Commerce in UCC. Assuming this is a 4 year degree would have meant he graduated in Summer 2011 when he would have then moved on from a development contract to a full contract with Munster.

I could be completely wrong on this of course. It would seem a bit strange for him to be named in the initial squad if he wasn't going to play any part in the game.

He could be doing a masters or even studying something else.

Maybe thats why he stayed with Munster - they promised him study leave.

I haven't a clue if its true or not.

irishbucsfan · 02-03-2012 2:56pm

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

I'd like to hear the official about Nagle not being involved. It might just be something as simple as fitness, or maybe just maybe, he hasn't been performing as well as the other locks in training? His heroics last year quickly made us forget that Foley was apparently the more highly rated lock.

I've definitely heard Foley described as the better of the two.

I think his lack of game time is either due to him focusing on developing physically this season or due to him just not being good enough.

jm08 · 02-03-2012 2:56pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

Strange that as I can't think of any exams that would be on now, certainly not third level anyway.

I read his profile on Munster Rugby and in a little interview with him in Oct 09 he said he was in third year Commerce in UCC. Assuming this is a 4 year degree would have meant he graduated in Summer 2011 when he would have then moved on from a development contract to a full contract with Munster.

I could be completely wrong on this of course. It would seem a bit strange for him to be named in the initial squad if he wasn't going to play any part in the game.

Northampton were chasing him, so Munster had to give him a (2 year) contract.

leftleg · 02-03-2012 3:00pm

jm08 wrote: »

Northampton were chasing him, so Munster had to give him a (2 year) contract.

Why if they aren't going to ever play him??

Fireball07 · 02-03-2012 3:03pm

leftleg wrote: »

Why if they aren't going to ever play him??

It is a good question but I'm taking hope from it in that it suggests somebody rates him. He could be working on some other parts of his game before making the step up, it's not unheard of.

phog · 02-03-2012 3:04pm

totallegend wrote: »

But he's on a full contract, isn't he? i.e. rugby should be his focus, especially now that the first-teamers are away.

He's studying like most if not all the academy players in Munster, I assume if he's on study leave then he has exams to prepare for. I really dont see an issue if it was his request. In the last couple of years we've seen at least a half dozen Irish players retire through injury, it's good that the current crop of players are being encouraged to have something to fall back on should the same happen to them

liam12989 · 02-03-2012 3:08pm

Has there been anything more said about Nagle to connacht?

02-03-2012 3:08pm

totallegend wrote: »

But he's on a full contract, isn't he? i.e. rugby should be his focus, especially now that the first-teamers are away.

I'd hope (and assume tbh) that none of the provinces would have any problem with a player requiring exam-leave.

If it was a position that they were particularly stretched at, there's obviously times when they could say no and ask them to defer their exams, but as Munster are hardly short on locks I doubt they'd begrudge the lad the chance to do well in education.

phog · 02-03-2012 3:14pm

leftleg wrote: »

Why if they aren't going to ever play him??

The season Munster have played 24 games.
Nagle has featured in 8 of those game, injured or on study leave for another 6. The remaining games were 6 H/C and the usual prep games for the internationals to play in prior to H/C (9 games in total)

So Nagle lost out in playing one game, Aironi at home and that was the first game in the season for POC and DOC after their return from the W/C.

I'd love to have seen him get more gametime but he's been injured for the two periods when the internationals were away and he's seemed to have lost ground because of this.

CatFromHue · 02-03-2012 3:18pm

phog wrote: »

He's studying like most if not all the academy players in Munster, I assume if he's on study leave then he has exams to prepare for. I really dont see an issue if it was his request. In the last couple of years we've seen at least a half dozen Irish players retire through injury, it's good that the current crop of players are being encouraged to have something to fall back on should the same happen to them

What's he studying?

totallegend · 02-03-2012 3:21pm

phog wrote: »

He's studying like most if not all the academy players in Munster, I assume if he's on study leave then he has exams to prepare for. I really dont see an issue if it was his request. In the last couple of years we've seen at least a half dozen Irish players retire through injury, it's good that the current crop of players are being encouraged to have something to fall back on should the same happen to them

I'm not suggesting they should deny him the chance to finish his education (this exam leave thing is suddenly being accepted as fact, after somebody said he might have seen it mentioned on MF.com), merely pointing out that:
a) He's not an academy player any more, he's a full-timer (as far as I know anyway).
b) He has been named in the larger squad every week. Munster have been very thorough in telling us who is and is not in consideration every week and if Nagle was genuinely unavailable, he would not be listed in the 30-man squads. No?
c) From his own point of view, this is the time when he needs to be getting game time. If he can't get games ahead of MOD, Holland and Foley, then what hope has he when Ryan, O'Connell and DOC are back?

jm08 · 02-03-2012 3:38pm

Someone else has posted on munsterfans that he is recovering from a shoulder injury. So that maybe they decided to give him the extra few days as they can't play everyone.

phog · 02-03-2012 4:25pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

What's he studying?

I've no idea and tbh I couldn't care less.

totallegend wrote: »

I'm not suggesting they should deny him the chance to finish his education (this exam leave thing is suddenly being accepted as fact, after somebody said he might have seen it mentioned on MF.com), merely pointing out that:
a) He's not an academy player any more, he's a full-timer (as far as I know anyway).
b) He has been named in the larger squad every week. Munster have been very thorough in telling us who is and is not in consideration every week and if Nagle was genuinely unavailable, he would not be listed in the 30-man squads. No?
c) From his own point of view, this is the time when he needs to be getting game time. If he can't get games ahead of MOD, Holland and Foley, then what hope has he when Ryan, O'Connell and DOC are back?

He hasn't been named in all the squads that Munster have named, in fact his injuries have been listed in some of those squad announcement.

I already gave a breakdown of his games this season and aside from the weeks he's been out injured he's missed Aironi (Home) and Cardiff (Away), for Aironi game POC and DOC were introduced back to the team after the W/C and it's been mentioned that he was on study leave for last week and the assumption is he's still on study leave for the game tomorrow night.

Podge_irl · 02-03-2012 4:27pm

Then why was he named in the extended squad?

phog · 02-03-2012 4:33pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

Then why was he named in the extended squad?

Give me Tony McGahan's number and I'll riung him.

CatFromHue · 02-03-2012 6:58pm

phog wrote: »

I've no idea and tbh I couldn't care less.

I can't think of any exams that are on at this time of the year so I personally think the rumour that he isn't picked due to having exams is not true.

Unless he is doing mock exams for the Leaving, they're on around now. Maybe he's repeating his leaving then. :pac:

Fireball07 · 02-03-2012 7:20pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

I can't think of any exams that are on at this time of the year so I personally think the rumour that he isn't picked due to having exams is not true.

Unless he is doing mock exams for the Leaving, they're on around now. Maybe he's repeating his leaving then. :pac:

Well there are college mid-term exams which in some courses you have to pass otherwise you fail the entire module. A couple of my friends have had them this week, and a few others next week.

phog · 03-03-2012 2:00pm

From the Examiner - Milestone for O’Driscoll as Tokula makes debut

A Munster career going back to 1998 will be marked tonight when Mick O’Driscoll captains the RaboDirect Pro12 champions in a crucial fixture against Newport Gwent Dragons for what will be his 200th career for the province.

It’s another milestone for the Cork player, who makes his 125th league appearance as he seeks to lead his side through another difficult fixture in the absence of their international representatives.

O’Driscoll sees victory as imperative in the battle for a top four place, particularly as Munster seek to secure a home semi-final by finishing as one of the top two.

The game also marks a debut opportunity for new signing Save Tokula, who gets his opportunity alongside Lifeimi Mafi in a backline that shows just two changes in personnel from last weekend.

http://examiner.ie/sport/rugby/milestone-for-odriscoll-as-tokula-makes-debut-185915.html

irishbucsfan · 03-03-2012 2:09pm

Does anyone know how many of those are as captain? A Munster legend.

Fishooks12 · 03-03-2012 2:17pm

Fair play to Mick.

Got a lot of undeserved slack down through the years. A consummate pro both for club and country.

He really stood up when POC got injured last year and played some of his best rugby

CIARAN_BOYLE · 03-03-2012 7:38pm

3 minutes in 3-0 up scrum penalty and keatley kicked it

Fireball07 · 03-03-2012 7:38pm

Nice easy kick from Keatley.

accensi0n · 03-03-2012 7:40pm

Anyone else having issues with the tg4 live player?

Dragons vs Munster, Sat 3 Mar 6:30pm, Live on S4C/TG4

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